Cable reeling and pulling truck.



l. ALBERTS.

CABLE REELING AND PULLING 4TRUCK.

AEPLICATION FILED APR. 25 19.16.

Patented F@b.'12,1918.

| NN 9W w WN l l M NN MN ww V A @A 1 CABLE REELING AND PULLING TRUCK.

APPLICATMJN FILED APR. 25. 1916.

1,256,019. Patented 1101). 12,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F1() 11 si CABLE REELING AND PULLING TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ret. 1a, wie.

Application filed April 25, 1916, Serial N o.` 93,420.

To all whom z' may concern: Y R Be it known that I, JAMES ALBEnTs, citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas,

' spools or reels and in this manner transported to the place where it is to be pulled into service. Various devices and apparatuses have been evolved lfor transporting the reels from the ware house to the point where the cable isto be installed and means has also been employed for winding and unwinding the'cable; but so far as I `am aware none of these devices have come into wide use and in each instance have either been found unsatisfactory or fallen short of the mark.

-In carrying out the invention I first provide a portable structure which may be easily propelled or drawn over roads or streets. Onthis structure I provide reel engaging elements or members arranged to engage a reel while in a'lowered position so as to elevate thereel when swung` upward. With the reel in this position it may be readily transported and cable may be unwound therefrom or wound thereon. y

I provide means on the truck for revolving the reel for the kpurpose of winding cable thereon and unwinding cable therefrom; said means including a change of gear and a brake. A drum is also mounted on the truck and connected with said gearing for the purpose of winding a rope thereon when pulling cable either through ducts or aerial rings and for various other purposes.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification and the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the acy companying drawings, in which an example of the invention is illustrated and wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of the truck, the forward portion being illustrated in section and the rear portion in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevationpof the truck,

Fig. 3 isa plan View, and

Fig. 4 is a detail in section of the reel supporting and turning means.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a bed or horizontal frame which includes longitudinal outer beams 2 and parallel inner beams 3 spaced therefrom. The beams 2 and 3 are mounted in pairs on each side of the frame which is open at its rearward end to form a jaw or yoke to receive a cable reel. Near the center the beams are tied together by a transverse connection 4 and at the front end. cross beams 5 complete the frame. A cross sill 6 carries the forward end of the frame and is in turn supported on a turning gear 7 which is mounted on an axle 8. The axle 8 is supported inground wheels 9, while a reach bar 10 has diverging portions extendina` rearwardlv and fastened to the under sides of the beams 3.

A bracket 11 depends from the rear extremityof each beam 3 and is unitedwith a forwardly extending brace bar 12. From each outer `beam a hanger 13 is supported. Each hanger is bent inward so as to confine a ground wheel 14 which has its trunnions bearingin said hangerand the bracket 11 and bar 12. The bars 12 extend forward each to a post15 having its upper end fastened to one of the beams 3. At the intersection with Vthe post the bar 12 is bent upward and secured to one of the beams 3. Also at this point thebars are connected by a transverse channel member 16 which is also fastened to the lower ends of the posts. It is obvious that the rear wheels are properlv braced and held in position to sustain `the load imposed. It will be seen that the greater portion of the rear of the frame 'between the beams 3 is free and unobstructed so that a reel A `may be readily" received therein. Y

For elevating the reel a pair of swinging quadrants 17 are mounted onthe frame and attached to chains 18 which extend forward as shown, the peripheries of the quadrants being grooved to receive the chains. Theforward ends of the chains are wound about drums 19 mounted between the beams 2 and 3 on a transverse shaft 20. Each quadrant has a bearing boss 21 located at one end and the upward swing of the quadrant is limited so that said bosswill-always be disposed rearward `of the perpendicular with relation to the pivot point of said quadrant. It will thusbe seen that the load carrie'dby the` quadrants being sustained at'the bearing bosses thereof will always swing the latter downward when the chains are paid off the the reel. yA transverse shaft 27 is employed for supporting the reel and rotating the same. This shaft is provided with a longitudinal key way28 which receives keys 29 mounted in the hubs 24. On one side of the truck a gear 30 is fastened on the sleeve 25 and a jam nut 3l threaded on the end of the sleeve and ybearing against the hub ofthe gear holdsthesleeve and spider against lateral displacement. The spider on the opposite side is arranged to slide laterally. to provide anadjustment for accommodating reels of different widths between the spiders.

In loading a reel the'quadrants 17 are swung downward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, the adjustable spider 23 having been moved laterally. The reel is rolled between the spiders and the quadrants are adjusted so that the hubs of the spiders register with the hub of the reel and permit the-shaft 27 to be passed through the parts so; that the keys 29 will enter the key way 28. That end of the' shaft passing through the adjustable spider is screw-threaded to receive a nut 32 whichbearsagainst the end of the sleeve 25 and the opposite end of the shaft is provided with a head 33 which bears against the end of the sleeve of the other spider. From this it will be seen that by screwing up the nut 32 the adjustable spider will be moved toward the reel and sufficient pressure is finally exerted so that the reel isclamped irml between the spiders and the spurs 26 em edded Vin the sides of the reel so that when said spiders arerevolved the reel must move therewith. 'By .winding up the chainslS the quadrants are swung upward and the reel elevated.

For revolving the shaft 20 a gear 34 is fixed thereon andlmeshes with aV pinion 35 mountedon a shaft 36 disposed rearward of the shaft 20. vThe shaft 36 has squared ends for receiving a crankha'ndle 37 by which saidVr shaft may be revolved. A ratchet 3S is also mounted on the shaft 36 and engaged by a pawl 89 loosely confined on the shaft 20. By meansV ofthe pawl and ratchet the drums 19. are held against revolution and the quadrants thus supported in any position to which they are elevated. It will be noted ,thatthe contour of each `quadrant is such that a greater leverage is had with reference to the chain 18 at' the beginning of the upward swing than at the end thereof, thus enabling theY load to be more easily picked up. i? Y For revolving vthe reel a pinion 4() is mounted on a shaft 41 under the gear 30 and meshes with said gear. The shaft 41 is supported von the beams 2 and 3 at one side of the framefanda similarshaft 42 is mounted on the beams at the opposite side. The quadrants are also looselyconfined on these shafts which form their pivot points. sprocket wheel 43 is mountedon the shaft 41 and made fast to the pinion. This sprocket is driven by ra cha-in 44- passing over a i sprocket wheel 45 fixedion va shaft 47 `which is parallel to a shaft46. The shafts 20, 3G. 46 and 47 are all disposed transversely :of the frame and supported in suitable bearing boxes on the beams 2y and 3.A These shafts j also have wrench ends crank-handle 37., Y l Y i On the: shaft 47a pairof gears 48 and 49, the latter being larger in diameter, are made for receiving Y the fast between the beams onthe sideopposite ,i that having the sprocket. The' said gears are spacedapart and aV pair of .pinions 50 and 5l'V splined `on the shaft 46 normally stand between the gears, the pinion() Abef ing designed to bemeshed with the gear'49 and the pinion `51 with the gear 48.1; A yoke 52 embraces the pinions and .isl slid by a 1 shifter 53, `said pinions beingr'fastened to.- gether. 4Invrevo'lving the reel the crankhandle 37 is appliedtothe shaft-45 and the A latter revolved. The pinions '1504-51 are engaged with one of the j gears according to the ratio desired and the. shaft 47 revolved, whereby vthe sprocket .45" is revolved. A brakewheel 56 is fixed on the shaft 47 and surrounded by aubrake band. 55 which is tightenedby a ylever device 57 of the usual construction. VAn elongated drum 54isalso fixed onthe shaft 47 v It is obvious that a -reel with cable there j A on may be supported over a man-hole and the cable paid oft1 as desired, or yif the Acable is to be v strung aerially the truck can benpositioned in line with the poles fas desired.

An empty reelcan be elevated on'the truck and cable wound thereoneitherfrom poles or underground ducts. j ln pulling-1n cable both aeriallyfand underground 1t; 1s"neces `sary to usea rope and block and tackle and for this purpose the drum 54` is provided.

The rope may be coiledabout said drum and wound thereon, thus reducing the timel'and labor requiredin this operation. y The many uses and advantages of this truck. and its equipment will be: self evident `to those skilled in the art. i

WhatIclaiIn, is: p i l. In a truck of -the 'character described,

the combination with a portable frame, of

mechanism for elevating an electric cable vand including swinging clamping members between which the reel is received and clamped, reel revolving means carried by the clamping members, means mounted on the frame for elevating the clamping members, and means mounted on the frame for operating the revolving means.

2. In a truck of the character described, the combination of a portable frame having supporting axles, a pair of elevating members hinged on the frame at a point removed from the axles, a gear concentric with the pivot point of the elevating members, means mounted on the frame and connected with the gear for operating the same, a reel supporting shaft and reel engaging clamps connected thereby and mounted to revolve in the elevating members, and a gear connected with one of the clamps and constantly in mesh with the first named gear.

3. In a truck of the character described, the combination of a portable frame, a reel elevating and revolving device mounted on the frame and comprising, a pair of quadrants hinged on the frame, flexible connection extending from the quadrants, means to which the connections are and whereby said connections are wound and unwound to swing the quadrants, a pair of spiders each having a sleeve mounted to revolve in the quadrants, a transverse shaft for supporting a cable reel between the spiders, said shaft passing through the spiders and their sleeves and having positive connection therewith for imparting revolution thereto, a gear carried by one of the quadrants for revolving the spiders and the shaft, and a gearing mounted on the frame and meshing with the gear for imparting motion thereto.

ln testimony wh ereoi:` I alix my signature.

JAMES ALBERTS.

winding attached Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

